The 9^th World Congress of Consuls of November 2009 will long be remembered for two distinguishing features. The first is the location, the second is the theme.

I have received your kind invitation for the 9th World Congress of Consuls to be held on November 16 – 17, 2009 by the International Federation of Consular Associations (FICAC Federation Internationle des Corps et Associations Consulaires).

Welcome to 9th World Congress of FICAC, International Federation of Consular Association.

In the congress held in Kingston three years ago, we had dreamed to host this estimable community in our country… It make us happy and bring honor to us to see our dream came true and to conduce to such an important meeting in Izmir and honored to us.

It gives me an immense pleasure seeing most of the members of Ficac all together in Izmir.

I stand before you today, proud and happy and so privileged to be part of the 9th World Congress of Consuls being held here in Izmir, the most beautiful city in the Republic of Turkey.

Every day, brooklyn is enriched by the contributions of turkish-americans in every field of endeavor and every walk of life. We’ve got turkish mosques and so many businesses owned by turks – in construction, retail, design, food and grocery, you name it!

I would like to indicate that we are very pleased to host you all in our Province and 9th World Congress of the World Federation of Honorary Consuls that be in service as the United Nations Civil Society Organization and which brings together Honorary Consuls

President Marty Markowitz, President of the Borough of Brooklyn, New York, presents a citation and a model of the Brooklyn Bridge to Arnold Foote, President of the World Federation of Consuls.

Hon. Kartar Bhalla receiving the FICAC Award of Excellence from President Arnold Foote. From left are Directors Hon. Dr. MirzaBaig, Hon. K. L. Ganju, Hon. Amarkai Amarteifio, FICAC Vice President, Hon. Lamartine Hollanda Jr.

President of the World Federation of Consuls Hon. Arnold Foote in his welcome speech at the FICAC 25^th Anniversary Awards Banquet at the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel in Monaco said: Welcome to the FICAC 25^th Anniversary Past Presidents Awards Banquet.